Today is World Hepatitis Day. On this day we join with the global effort to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. At the same time, it’s a reminder that hepatitis C and liver health remain important issues for our community.
In 2026 the national theme is Take the next step, a message to take the next step for your health, no matter where you are in your journey.
Why is this relevant to people with bleeding disorders?
- Some people may have acquired hep C before 1993 and not know they were at risk
- Hep C can now be cured and treatment is simple
- Even if you are cured, if you have cirrhosis or extensive scarring, you will need ongoing 6-monthly liver health monitoring
- You might be wondering if you can have gene therapy if you are cured of hep C.
And whether we have had hep C or not,
- A healthy liver is vital to all of us. 1 in 3 Australians have liver disease.
Your liver has a lot of different jobs to do to keep your body working well. Take the next step to look after your liver health.
Click here for 5 ways to keep your liver healthy.
Hep C and bleeding disorders
You may be aware that in Australia many people with bleeding disorders acquired hepatitis C from treatment with blood products before 1993. Several safety measures were introduced by 1993 and the risk of hep C or HIV from plasma-derived clotting factor products in Australia is now considered to be extremely low. But many people in our community live on with the consequences of those early infections.
Current hep C treatments are simple and easy – a once-daily tablet, with few if any side-effects and very high cure rates. Most Australians with bleeding disorders and hep C have now had treatment and been cured – but some need ongoing care for their liver health.
Who is at risk?
It’s important to share the message that if you ever had a blood product to treat your bleeding disorder before 1993 – even once – you could be at risk. This includes women who carry the gene and people with mild bleeding disorders.
Nearly 1 in 5 Australians with hepatitis C have never been diagnosed and don’t know they have hep C. Symptoms are not always obvious.
Hep C blood tests to find out your hep C status are free. This is very simple – a telehealth appointment through HepLink or a GP or HTC can organise it. And if you do have hep C, you can have treatment to be cured.
Post cure liver health
If you are cured of hep C, how well has your liver recovered?
It’s important to know whether you had cirrhosis or extensive scarring before being cured of hep C. If you did, you will still need to have a liver ultrasound scan every 6 months long-term. This is to screen for liver cancer – which has a much better outcome if picked up on screening and treated early.
If you don’t know, check your liver test results with the doctor who managed your hep C treatment.
Hep C and gene therapy
Interested in gene therapy for haemophilia? You may be wondering if you are eligible if you have had hep C and been cured. We asked the medical experts – read their answer here.
Personal stories
We are grateful to the community members who have generously shared their personal stories about their hep C journey, clearing hep C and the importance of managing your liver health. Read their stories.
You can find more information on the HFA World Hepatitis Day page.
